Bread Pudding moves in comfortably as a main or a side dish
I’ve confessed this before: I love bread. I could live by bread alone. Well, almost. Like most folks, I love bread pudding in the sweet form. But I’ve been experimenting with savory bread pudding, and I’m here to report that it’s fantastic. This is an updated casserole of sorts, though much, much easier. And this “pudding” welcomes all ingredients — in fact to shop for it goes against its humble nature.
I could have called this the “Kitchen Sink” Bread Pudding, because it cries out for using the odds and ends in the refrigerator or larder — vegetable, meat or cheese. I happened to have a couple of slices of prosciutto and a package of sliced peppered salami. I also had some shredded parmesan and mozzarella, but any combination of cheese would be great. In fact, if you make this bread pudding with a combination you think is sublime, let me know. I’m always looking for ideas for my kitchen table.
The basic ingredients are stale bread, 6 eggs, milk and an onion -- everything else is interchangeable
Savory Bread Pudding | 4 to 6 servings
This makes a hearty 4 or 5 servings as a main dish, or 6 as a side. If you don’t have stale bread on hand, tear up any bread and let it dry out overnight or in a very low oven.
8 handfuls of stale bread torn into bite-sized pieces or cubes
(about 10 cups — I used 1 baguette and a demi olive bread)
Butter
6 eggs
3 cups of milk (a little less if the bread is less stale)
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 red onion, chopped
1 large clove garlic, minced to a paste
10 slices peppered salami, chopped
4 slices prosciutto, chopped
4-inch sprig fresh rosemary, leaves chopped
2 tablespoons pesto
1 cup chopped or shredded fresh mozzarella
1/2 cup shredded parmesan
Butter a 9 x 13 inch casserole.
My "handful" is the equivalent of a very full cup of bread pieces
Put the stale bread pieces in an oversize bowl. Combine the eggs and milk and add a little salt and pepper. Pour this mixture over the bread, tossing well to coat the pieces. Let the bread stand for 20 minutes or until it is soft and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
A large bowl is best for tossing the ingredients together
The staler the bread, the more time is needed to soften the pieces
Turn over the soaking bread periodically to help the softening process and distribute the liquid -- I like to use my hands to do this
While the bread is soaking, preheat the oven to 350°F. Heat the olive oil over medium heat and wilt the onions for 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook another 30 seconds. Add the chopped salami, prosciutto, and rosemary and cook for 1 more minute.
This could be cooked chicken and broccoli, or sausage and asparagus -- I do like an onion in it, though
To the soaked bread, add the cooked onion and salami mixture, pesto, and 2/3 of the cheese. Combine well.
Mix this all together and add a little more salt and pepper
Scoop the mixture into the buttered casserole and distribute the remaining cheese over the top.
Spread the soaked bread out in an even layer
Bake in the preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes. The top will be golden brown and slightly crispy.
It's hard to stop eating this celebration of bread
If it doesn’t all get eaten fresh from the oven, it’s awfully good heated in the microwave, and as long as you’re doing that why not put a poached egg on top? Mmmm.
Kelly McCune © 2010
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Thought you might enjoy this —
http://www.joanne-eatswellwithothers.com/
Hey Kelly,
This looks fabulous! I love bread pudding but have only had it sweet, not savory. I think I have all the ingredients so I’ll try it soon – thanks!
Toni
Thanks for the link, Barry!